French President Francois Hollande Visits Mali

French President Francois Hollande Visits Mali

MALI-FRANCE-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-CONFLICT

PASCAL GUYOT

France's President Francois Hollande (C), flanked by Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore (L), receives presents upon his arrival at the Mopti airport, in Sevare, on February 2, 2013. President Francois Hollande visits Mali as French-led troops work to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. Hollande will head to Timbucku and Bamako. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT

France's President Francois Hollande (C), flanked by Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore (L), receives presents upon his arrival at the Mopti airport, in Sevare, on February 2, 2013. President Francois Hollande visits Mali as French-led troops work to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. Hollande will head to Timbucku and Bamako. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT

MALI-FRANCE-DIPLOMACY-CONFLICT

FRED DUFOUR

Malian people wait for the visit of French President on February 2, 2013 in Timbuktu. France's president Francois Hollande received a rapturous welcome today as he visited Mali to push for African troops to take over a French-led offensive that drove back Islamist rebels from the country's desert north. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR

Malian people wait for the visit of French President on February 2, 2013 in Timbuktu. France's president Francois Hollande received a rapturous welcome today as he visited Mali to push for African troops to take over a French-led offensive that drove back Islamist rebels from the country's desert north. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR

MALI-FRANCE-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-CONFLICT

FRED DUFOUR

France's President Francois Hollande (C) is welcomed by Malian people as he arrives at Timbuktu, the second step of his one-day visit in Mali, on February 2, 2013. Hollande visits Mali as French-led troops work to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. AFP PHOTO FRED DUFOUR

France's President Francois Hollande (C) is welcomed by Malian people as he arrives at Timbuktu, the second step of his one-day visit in Mali, on February 2, 2013. Hollande visits Mali as French-led troops work to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. AFP PHOTO FRED DUFOUR

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT

ERIC FEFERBERG

A woman, wearing a dress with the colors of the French national flag, dances on the Independance square during the visit of French President in Mali on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

A woman, wearing a dress with the colors of the French national flag, dances on the Independance square during the visit of French President in Mali on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech at the residence of the French ambassador in Mali on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech at the residence of the French ambassador in Mali on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-CROWD

ERIC FEFERBERG

A man holding French and Malian national flags poses on February 2, 2013 at the Independence Square in Bamako, while French President and his Malian counterpart deliver a speech. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. The man's body is painted with blue, white and red, the French national colors and reads 'Welcome the Savior, Francois Hollande'. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

A man holding French and Malian national flags poses on February 2, 2013 at the Independence Square in Bamako, while French President and his Malian counterpart deliver a speech. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. The man's body is painted with blue, white and red, the French national colors and reads 'Welcome the Savior, Francois Hollande'. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (C) shakes hands to people amongst the crowd on February 2, 2013 after delivering a speech with his Malian counterpart at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (C) shakes hands to people amongst the crowd on February 2, 2013 after delivering a speech with his Malian counterpart at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE-TRAORE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (L) and his Malian counterpart Dioncounda Traore (C) raise their hands on February 2, 2013 after delivering a speech at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (L) and his Malian counterpart Dioncounda Traore (C) raise their hands on February 2, 2013 after delivering a speech at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-CROWD

ERIC FEFERBERG

The crowd wave to French President and his Malian counterpart as they deliver a speech on February 2, 2013 at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

The crowd wave to French President and his Malian counterpart as they deliver a speech on February 2, 2013 at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-CROWD

ERIC FEFERBERG

The crowd wave to French President and his Malian counterpart as they deliver a speech on February 2, 2013 at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

The crowd wave to French President and his Malian counterpart as they deliver a speech on February 2, 2013 at the Independence Square in Bamako. French President Francois Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE-TRAORE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (2ndL) and Malian President Dioncounda Traore (C) lay a wreath at the Independence monument in Bamako on February 2, 2013. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (2ndL) and Malian President Dioncounda Traore (C) lay a wreath at the Independence monument in Bamako on February 2, 2013. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE-TRAORE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (2ndL) waves to the crowd while Malian President Dioncounda Traore (C) delivers a speech on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (2ndL) waves to the crowd while Malian President Dioncounda Traore (C) delivers a speech on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE-TRAORE

ERIC FEFERBERG

Malian President Dioncounda Traore (C) waves to the crowd as he delivers a speech next to French President Francois Hollande (2ndL) on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

Malian President Dioncounda Traore (C) waves to the crowd as he delivers a speech next to French President Francois Hollande (2ndL) on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE-TRAORE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (L) and Malian President Dioncounda Traore (R) wave to the crowd after their speech on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (L) and Malian President Dioncounda Traore (R) wave to the crowd after their speech on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-HOLLANDE-TRAORE

ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (C) delivers a speech next to Malian President Dioncounda Traore (2ndL) on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

French President Francois Hollande (C) delivers a speech next to Malian President Dioncounda Traore (2ndL) on February 2, 2013 in Bamako. Hollande called on Africans to take over the fight against extremism as he received a rapturous welcome today in Mali, where a French-led offensive has driven back Islamist rebels from the north. AFP PHOTO / ERIC FEFERBERG

Trefwoorden

France's President Francois Hollande , flanked by Mali's interim... Nieuwsfoto'sAankomst,Conflict,Dioncounda Traoré,Een groep mensen,Frankrijk,François Hollande,Horizontaal,Luchthaven,Mali,Malinese Burgeroorlog 2012-2013,Mensen,Mopti,OntvangenPhotographer PASCAL GUYOTCollection: AFP 2013 AFPFrance's President Francois Hollande (C), flanked by Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore (L), receives presents upon his arrival at the Mopti airport, in Sevare, on February 2, 2013. President Francois Hollande visits Mali as French-led troops work to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. Hollande will head to Timbucku and Bamako. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)